Rural women empowerment and development
As farmers, wage earners and entrepreneurs, women contribute a major share in rural economy. Their unpaid work is huge in terms of households, where they take care of whole family, including children and elderly members. They fetch woods and water for households from far-flung areas by walking miles away from home. They take care of livestock, and use their knowledge of agricultural practices and biodiversity in farms.
Their share in agricultural labour remains around 20 percent in Latin America and over 50 percent in Africa and Asia. Women’s role in rural economy becomes much larger than their male counterparts. Rural women do far more work than urban women on daily basis and in a lifetime. Despite playing central roles in rural society and contributing majorly in economy, rural women never get their deserving share of credit, socio-political-economic empowerment and gender equality.
Role of women in rural economy
Now the question is this, after playing the central role, why they lag behind socially, politically and economically? Why cannot they get due credit of their produce or output which was never possible in their absence? Why are rural women not empowered and not having gender equality in 21th century? Should we just say, “it is male dominated world”, and move away from the issue?
No, we need to take a few steps as soon as possible for the betterment of rural women. Before discussing on what those steps are that we must take in this regard, it is important to check some facts and figures related to contribution and situation of rural women worldwide. The United Nations has shared following data on rural women development:
- The world’s 25 percent population is rural women farmers, wage earners and entrepreneurs.
- Less than 20 percent of landholders are women across the world.
- Gender pay gap is around 40 percent in rural areas.
- A 25 percent reduction in gender gap in the labour force by 2025 can result in a rise of global GDP by 3.9 percent.
- An equal access to agricultural assets, education and markets for rural women could cut the number of hungry people by 100-150 million.
Rural women empowerment and development
Celebrating International Day of Rural Women on October 15, the UN said rural women help in agricultural and rural development, achieve zero hunger, end poverty and respond to Covid-19. Yet, the rural women across the world are undervalued, and their rights are under threat. On this day, the international body called on the world to join heads with it in thanking and supporting the rural women and girls.
The UN mentioned about the critical role of women in agriculture, food security and land and natural resources management. Yet they have to suffer from discrimination, systemic racism, and structural poverty, the agency said. The Covid-19 outbreak has affected over 50 percent of the world’s women farmers. This is due to movement restrictions, shops and markets closures, and supply chains disruptions, said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
During pandemic, the rural women’s plight magnifies due to their lack of access to quality health services, essential medicines and vaccines. Further, women have less access to health services because of restrictive social norms and gender stereotypes in rural areas, said the UN head. Furthermore, their plight aggravates owing to living in isolation, spread of misinformation, and less access to critical technologies to improve their work and personal lives, he added.
Invest in rural women
Offering agricultural updates and healthcare information, digital channels can become lifelines of rural society. However, gender digital divide is wide, with barely a quarter of women having access to digital technologies in rural areas. Rural women’s vulnerability of their rights to land and resources, and discriminatory gender norms has increased in pandemic times. Citing women’s rights under threat, the UN raised the dire need for investing in rural women in this time of crisis.
Moreover, the agency asked for solidarity and support to empower rural women, from all sides of the world. There is an imperative need to invest in rural women, said the UN chief. The UN suggested a few important following points in order to provide rural women with a better life.
- Offer them access to healthcare, social protection and agricultural information
- End the gender digital divide
- Respond to the “shadow pandemic of violence against women”
- Deal with discriminatory land and inheritance laws
- Offer support to women’s unpaid care and domestic work
Finally, the UN head called on the world to renew its commitment to rural women in all their diversity. He asked for a rise in efforts to support them through the coronavirus pandemic. Also, as concluding, he suggested working with rural women to build their resilience to future crises.
